FORENSIC STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING

CASES OF STUDY
CASE N° 3
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE
MARTIN POLIMENI
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
EEPP SA
eeppsaingenieria@gmail.com
FIU PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE COLLAPSE
In March 15, 2018, the FIU
pedestrian bridge collapse during
erection works, in Florida, USA.
 FIU PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE COLLAPSE

Principal causes:
• Deficient structural analysis and design, of the stages of construction.
• Underestimated shear demand and overestimated shear capacity in a
critical cold joint.
• Fail in engineering controls.
Consequences:
* 6 people dead.
* 10 people injured.
 FIU PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE COLLAPSE
Principal structural system of the main span, during the erection works
 FIU PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE COLLAPSE
The bridge
parts are
assembled near
the final
location and
then
transported to
that place (ABC
construction
method).
Great cracking,
before and after
relocation the
bridge.
FIU PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE COLLAPSE

Insufficient steel
reinforcing in
shear critical
interface
(construction
joint).
Intentional
roughness in the
cold joints did
not be indicated
in structural
plans.
FIU PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE COLLAPSE
Cracking indicating structural
distress.
Pipe sleeves also contributed
to weakened the structural
resistant concrete sections.
FIU PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE COLLAPSE
Stages of construction. Axial
load in member 11 changes
between the different stages
from tension to compression.
FIU PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE COLLAPSE
In the stage of
construction 3 (when
collapse happened),
the great horizontal
component of the truss
member 11 (diagonal)
is not yet
counteracted.
 FIU PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE COLLAPSE
Lessons learned:
 As usual, the causes of the collapse were multiple.
 Important design flaws, particularly en the underestimate shear demand
and overestimated shear capacity of critical joints.
 Failure in the correct cracking judgment (cracks 40 times wider than
accpetable) during inspection works, before the collapse.
 In order to “close” the detected cracks previous the collapse, it was
decided retensioning the member 11 PT rods (diagonal), increasing the
horizontal action (shear) in the node 11/12. The collapse occurred
immediately after the retensioning. Fatal decision.
 Lack redundancy of the structure.
 Failed in peer review.
 Although its seems obvious, its remarkable to say that a correct and deep
analysis of the actions during stages of construction is as important as in
the service stage. This issue is specially relevant in ABC method.
 A correct and competent peer review is a fundamental issue in structural
engineering practice.